Eagle’s Glory

With the defeat and rout of the Turkish army, this short but fierce battle also came to an end.

The artillery fire that was shocking just now has suddenly disappeared at this time, but the sporadic gunshots, the dense dead bodies everywhere, and the dying groans of the seriously injured are all shocking proofs of all the tragedies that happened just now.

Aigron stepped down from the high platform of the castle, and amidst the cheers of the soldiers, he strode into the valley. This was the most intense battlefield just now - just at dawn, this place was still a place with beautiful scenery and trees. The dense valley, however, in just two hours, it was already a hell strewn with corpses and filled with choking smoke and dust.

Through the smoke and dust, Egron clearly saw that many guns were lost on the ground, and many animals pulling carts were also moving in a daze in the smoke—this is what was left when the defeated soldiers fled just now. , but now it has become his trophy.

The winner wins everything. This is the eternal law of war.

He won.

There is no evidence that can prove this fact better than the current scene.

However, Aigron's mood has calmed down now. He has overdrawn his excitement on the high platform just now, but now, what he needs more is calmness.

Victory brings not only ecstasy, but also hesitation about the next move.

The endless cheers around him did not interrupt his thoughts. He was very focused at the moment, and his brain was thinking at high speed.

Should I pursue ruthlessly and expand the results in order to completely destroy the enemy army that just retreated? Or should we just give it up and return to Nafpaktos to defeat another enemy army?

As far as his personal nature is concerned, he has always advocated being ruthless to the enemy like the winter wind. Now that he has won, he must continue to raise bets, and he must smash all the resistance and will of the opponent.

However, although doing so is fun, it will delay time and put Andre Davout under more pressure. Although he trusts Andre's ability, it seems that he should not take any more risks.

Moreover, the biggest problem is that he does not have an organized cavalry, so it is difficult to carry out brutal sweeps when the enemy army retreats on a large scale, turning the repelling battle into an organized annihilation war, and completely eradicating the threat of this enemy army.

The safe approach would be to return immediately, but it would be a pity to give up the pursuit, and it would leave hidden dangers.

Just because it’s hard to balance in my heart,

So Aigron walked silently on the grass, his brows furrowed.

"Your Highness!" At this moment, a greeting from the side broke his thoughts.

Aigron turned around and saw that this person was Major Hench.

At this time, his body was covered with dust and his face was blackened, but there were no wounds on his body, and his eyes were still as murderous as before, making it difficult to look directly at.

Aigron had completely seen his bravery and composure when he led the phalanx to charge just now. Now when he faced him again, he felt even more admiration in his heart—what a majestic soldier!

It's a pity that he will only serve for this period of time...

"Thank you, Mr. Major." Aigron put down the sigh in his heart, and then patted the other party's shoulder, "I will never...never forget your appearance just now, and I am grateful for your help to me."

"This is my duty, Your Highness." Major Hench replied calmly, "If you want to thank me, why not thank the Grand Duke and His Majesty Theresa for their kindness to you."

Even now, he has not forgotten to emphasize his true allegiance...Aigron could only shrug awkwardly.

"I understand. What advice can you give me now?"

"We have won the victory now, but it is not the time to stop. We should continue to act quickly." Major Hench expressed his judgment. "I personally suggest that you directly order the return to the division to help your guard captain solve other problems." Enemies on one side.”

"You mean to give up the pursuit?" Aigron immediately understood what he meant.

Major Hench nodded slightly, but this was enough to express his will.

"What if the tragedy of 1815 happens again?" Eggron asked in a low voice. "Don't forget that Blücher was also defeated at that time, but he still rushed to that damn Waterloo and ended everything."

"The situation in 1815 is completely different from this time." Major Hench replied categorically. "At that time, Blücher was commanding a Prussian army that had a deep hatred for the French, and its structure had not been destroyed. It was just that It's just that you have been defeated for the time being; and the enemies you face now are originally allies with ulterior motives. None of them has any quarrel with you, and none of them has the determination to fight to the death for their allies. Once they are defeated by you, they will be defeated in a short time. They only dare to cower and lick their wounds, and they will never have the courage to rally and continue to attack you... So you can return immediately to rescue your guard captain and Nafpaktos."

Major Hench's words made sense, and instantly made Aigron make up his mind.

"You are right, chasing such a retreating defeated army does not bring much benefit to me." He nodded, then clenched his fists, "After lunch, we will return immediately!"

Judging from the distance he traveled here, it would take about a day at normal marching speed to return to Nafpaktos, but if he forced his march to speed up, he could arrive in the evening.

Although the soldiers were very tired from the two days of marching and fighting, with the morale boost brought by today's victory, it was not impossible.

That being the case, why are you hesitating?

Major Hench did not reply immediately, but looked at this young man with a gratified look who was willing to accept advice humbly and was able to make a decision.

"I will write a report detailing our experience for His Highness in the future. I think Your Highness will be very happy with your performance - at least so far."

"I will only be better in the future." Aigron replied with a hint of pride.

Seeing the young man's competitive and ambitious face, Major Hench couldn't help but laugh in his heart.

He completely understood why Archduke Karl, who always had his eyes on the top, valued him so much and was willing to accept this son of a sinner as his son-in-law.

"Yes, I have no doubt about that." He held his head high and replied leisurely.

After making the decision, Aigron asked his guards to call Michel Ney to his side.

"Your Majesty, congratulations!" Michel Ney saluted respectfully as soon as he saw him, "You led us to victory!"

"This is what you earned with your hard work and bloodshed." Aiglon replied with a smile.

Then, he expressed his decision, "However, this does not mean that we have to stop, on the contrary, we have to continue to act! You give the order to go down, and the whole army has lunch quickly. After eating, we will march immediately, Go back and rescue Nafpaktos...as quickly as possible."

Although he was a little surprised that Aiglon did not order the pursuit, Michel Ney thought about it and concluded that His Majesty's decision was the safest choice at present, so he did not raise any objection. "Okay, Your Majesty, I will convey the order to you right away... But why don't you show your face in front of the whole army first? Everyone is excited now, and they are just waiting to see you."

"Of course." Aigron couldn't help laughing.

Now that we have won, we still have to do things to boost morale.

"Besides..." Michelle Ney hesitated again.

"What else?" Aiglon asked.

"We captured hundreds of prisoners this time." Michel Ney replied, "What will they do if we return immediately?"

This is indeed a problem. It is obviously impossible to march with prisoners. If they are detained here, he will not have enough food rations to feed them.

As for killing them all, it would be pointless and detrimental to his own reputation.

"We don't have time to take them in, so collect their weapons and let them go...and let them take away their wounded." Aigron hesitated for a moment and then replied, "A few hundred people can't change the balance of victory and defeat, so even if they Go back, you won’t have the guts to go against us for the time being.”

"Yes!" Michelle Ney immediately accepted his order.

Aiglon can clearly feel that as he leads his knights through battles and wins, his authority is gradually being established - in the past, his authority came from his name; now his authority is more It comes from trust in him personally.

No matter what orders he gives, as long as they are his will, they will be obeyed by his subordinates.

This is the result he wants to see.

Now, it’s time to continue to solidify that authority.

"After we leave, you leave one or two hundred people to guard the castle, monitor the movements here, collect the captured weapons that we have no time to take away, and take care of the seriously wounded who cannot be taken away." Aigron added the final order. "We must leave them the most adequate supplies."

Although limited by his current resources, most of the wounded will definitely not receive enough treatment, but he must not show any intention of actively abandoning them.

"yes!"

Michel Ney quickly conveyed Aiglon's order to the entire army.

Although everyone was very tired after the fierce battle, the joy of victory made them gladly accept His Majesty's order.

The battlefield was quickly cleaned up, and all sporadic resistance was wiped out, and before lunch, under the organization of the officers, all soldiers who could still move—even if they were slightly injured—formed a neat formation. Square arrays were arranged on both sides, leaving a passage in the middle.

Aigron, dressed in military uniform, strutted across the middle road, waving to the soldiers from time to time.

When he came to the end of the last phalanx, he took off his hat suddenly, then raised it high, and waved his hat to all the soldiers who had just fought for him.

"Long live!"

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Long live the Empire!"

The young man answered with deafening cheers.

The cheers echoed in the valley, seeming to shake the earth. At this time, Major Hench was quietly watching the young man who was stealing the limelight from an inconspicuous corner of the battlefield.

It’s this familiar shout again…

He has served in the Austrian army for many years, and he has heard this cry in too many places. At this time, the old dream is rekindled, so how can he not let him recall those memories of the past?

Twenty years of unquenchable war, and the blood that filled the entire European continent...

Forget it, let’s talk about the rest later.

He cut off his thoughts.

At the same moment, in another corner of the field, there were two other people silently watching the glorious scene in the distance.

Edgar looked at his loyal Majesty and the soldiers celebrating enthusiastically with great interest. His fingers were shaking unconsciously, as if he was imagining a new painting.

And Agnes, who was dressed in men's clothing but couldn't hide her beauty, was also staring at the young man who was obviously gentle and handsome, but also inexplicably full of majesty.

She has never seen such a dazzling peer in Paris - and she believes she will never meet her again in the future.

Her eyes were shining with admiration, dissatisfaction, excitement at finally seeing a strong man, admiration for a girl's natural nature...or something else?

Maybe she couldn't tell herself.

"Your Majesty, he is really handsome." At this moment, Edgar said abruptly, "Hey, even if he doesn't become emperor, he is enough to fascinate the whole of Paris—I bet."

"Maybe." Agnes replied with a lack of interest, "If he didn't have such a strong desire for fame, he could become a swordsman who can shine through the entire era."

"Being an emperor is much more interesting than being a swordsman!" Edgar retorted with a smile.

This was true, so Agnes could only be speechless.

"Hey... I feel so sorry for you." Edgar narrowed his eyes slightly, and then sighed with regret, "It's also for Alice."

Agnes was a little confused at first, but soon understood something.

Then, her cheeks suddenly turned crimson, and she glared at Edgar angrily. "Didn't I say not to mention this again?!"

Although he knew that the other party could easily tear him apart, Edgar showed no fear at this moment. Instead, he asked the other party.

"Agnes, are you so angry because of shame or regret?"

Agnes hesitated for a moment, then answered sharply. "It's none of your business!"

"As your brother-in-law, how can I not care about you?" Edgar sighed again, "To be honest, I am really sorry, after all, His Majesty has no one who can replace you... only It’s a pity that Her Majesty Teresa got there first! I want to curse the Austrian Emperor for this!”

Agnes was so angry that she was about to take action.

"Actually, nothing is settled yet." Edgar said suddenly. "After all, they are not married yet. The engagement can be changed at any time, right? Your Majesty is a poet, and there will always be times when you are motivated."

He knew in his heart that once a person with such a temper as His Majesty made a decision, he would never change it easily, and even now, the situation could not allow this young man to go back on his word—

Teresa worked hard for him in front of and behind the scenes, and used her identity to seek help for the young man in various ways. On the one hand, she was kind to His Majesty; on the other hand, she was also in this situation. The organization has great influence. If His Majesty really dares to break the contract, not to mention anything else, the Austrians around him will not be able to spare him.

Therefore, no matter from an emotional or utilitarian point of view, this marriage is already a done deal and cannot be changed.

But this does not prevent him from spreading false information to Agnes.

"But what does this have to do with me?" Agnes finally restrained herself from doing anything to her brother-in-law, but she didn't want to hear any more, turned her head and walked away.

Edgar silently stared at his sister-in-law's graceful back, and then lightly shrugged.